Bed construction



J. B. CALDWELL ErAL ,303,433 I BED CONSTRUCTION Dec. 1, 1942.

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Filed March 5, 1941 A770NEY6.

forms of bed constructions.

Patented Dec. 1, 1942 BED CONSTRUCTION John Bigelow Caldwell, Buffalo, N. Y., and Wallace M. Morton, Chicago, 111.

Application March 5, 1941, Serial N0. 381,858

1 Claim. ((01. -62) This invention relates to improvements in bed Constructions, particularly to bed constructions for use in connection with hospital or invalid beds for supporting persons in various inclined flat positions, as well as in the conventional Gatch raised positions.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified bed construction of this type. Another object of this invention is to provide a bed construction of this type comprising a main frame, an intermediate frame and an articulated frame which is supported on the intermediate frame, and in which a ratchet mechanism is provided for supporting the intermediate and articulated frames in various inclined positions relatively to the main frame.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bed construction embodying this invention, showing the parts arranged in normal position for supporting a patient horizontally, the bed ends being only partly shown.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts of the bed arranged for supporting a patient in inclined positions.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof, on line 3-413, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional elevation thereof, showing the parts in a position for supporting a patient horizontally and in .raised position.

Fig. 5 is a similar longitudinal central sectional elevation thereof, showing the parts in another position.

a The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of our invention, and it is not intended to limit this invention to the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, since it is obvious that our invention may be embodied in different In the particular example illustrated in the drawings, the bed construction includes a main frame which may be of any suitable or desired form, that shown including longitudinal frame members 8 rigidly connected at their ends by means of transverse frame members 9. These frame members are preferably of metal and may, for example, be of angle-shaped cross section as shown. The main frame may also be provided at its opposite ends with suitable connecting members It, by means of which the main frame may be supported from suitable bed ends-l l. These bed ends are not correct operative relation to each other.

they may be of any suitable or desired form and may be of wood or metal.

Our improved bed also includes a rigid intermediate frame which also may be of any suitable or desired construction, that shown including a pair of longitudinal side frame members l5 rigidly connected at their .ends with transversely extending frame members It, the frame members shown being also of angle-shaped cross section. The intermediate frame is adjustably mounted on the main frame in such a manner as to be placed into a number of different positions relatively to the main frame, so that the intermediate frame may be inclined upwardly either from the foot or from the head of the bed, at varying degrees of inclination, and so that it may also be arranged at different heights relatively to the main frame member. In order to make these adjustments possible, without the use of complicated and expensive power amplifying mechanisms, we have provided 'an improved and simplified construction which includes means for supporting the intermediate frame in various inclined and elevated positions relatively to the main frame, and also means for holding the intermediate frame in its correct operative relation to the main frame during the adjustments of the intermediate frame. may suitable construction may be provided for maintaining the intermediate and main frames in In the particular construction illustrated by way of example, we have provided a pair of radius bars or rods [8 of considerable length and extending lengthwise of the bed at opposite sides thereof. These bars have their ends pivotally connected respectively to the main frame and to the intermediate frame so that when the intermediate frame is moved into various positions relatively to the main frame, the intermediate frame will be held by the radius bars against any material endwise or lateral movement relatively to the main frame. In the particular construction illustrated, the radius bars I8 are connected to the main frame by means of pivot pins or the like l9, which'exten'd through the rear ends of the radius bars and through brackets or extensions 20 secured to and extending upwardly from the longitudinal frame members 8 of the main frame, the pivot pins I9 being substantially coaxial. These brackets or extensions may be of any suitable form, being of substantially U-shaped cross section in the construction shown, and the upper ends thereof also serve the purpose of supportf'ully shown in the accompanying drawings, since ingthe longitudinal frame memberslfi of the intermediate frame when the rear end of the same is in its lowest position as shown in Figs.

1, 2 and 5. The front ends of the radius bars may be connected by means of pivots 22 to brackets or extensions 23, which are rigidly secured to' the lower faces of the longitudinal frame members I5 of the intermediate frame, these pivots 22 also being substantially coaxial. These brackets or extensions 23 also serve the purpose of resting upon the main frame when the front end of the intermediate frame is in its lowest position, as shown in Fig. l, and in broken lines in Fig. 2, forming supports for the front end,

' holding the intermediate frame against substantial movement lengthwise and crosswise of the main frame may be employed.

The intermediate frame of our improved bed construction is raised or lowered into the desired position manually, and is then held in such position by means of suitable detents or ratchets. These detents o ratchets may be of any suitable or desired form and arrangement, and in the construction illustrated, ratchet or notched bars 25 are provided, which are suitably secured below the longitudinal members 8 of the main frame in any desired manner, for example, by means of supporting members or hangers 26. The upper ends of these hangers are preferably bent approximately at right angles to the upright positions thereof and may be riveted or otherwise secured to the inwardly extending horizontal flanges of the frame members 8 of the main frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and the ratchet bars 25 may be secured to the lower ends of these hangers. By means of this arrangement, the ratchet members will be located inwardly from the sides of the bed where they are relatively inconspicuous and where they will not be in the way of persons attending the patient. Two of these ratchet bars are mounted adjacent to each end of the main frame, one being arranged at each end of each longitudinal frame member 8, and the upper faces of these ratchet bars may-be provided with suitable notches or depressions 21.

Suitable pawls or detents pivotally mounted on the intermediate frame are provided for 00- operation with the ratchet bars 25. The pawls or detents whichare illustrated by way of example in the drawings, each include a transversely extending rigid member 30, which may for example be of tubular form and provided at its ends with outwardl extending rods or ratchet pins 3| located to cooperate with the two ratchet bars at one end of the bed. The transverse bars are provided with arms 33 which may be welded or otherwise secured thereto and which may be pivotally mounted on the intermediate frame in any suitable manner, For example, these bars 33 may be pivoted to suitable brackets 34 mounted on the ends or transverse frame members It of the intermediate frame. The pawl members at the two ends of the bed may be identical in construction.

When the intermediate frame is in its lowest position as shown in Fig. 1, the pawl members exoil tend from the ends of the intermediate frame toward the middle portion of the bed and the extension rods or ratchet pins 3| rest upon the upper endge of the ratchet bars 25. If an end of the intermediate member is raised, these extension rods or bars will drop into one or another of the notches 21, depending upon the extent to which the intermediate frame is raised. In order to hold the ratchet pins or rods in correct operative relation to the ratchet bars 25, a retaining bar 35 is preferably secured to the hangers 26 in spaced relation above the ratchet bars 25, and the outer ends of the pins may be provided with knobs or enlargements 35 which serve to hold the ratchet pins against movement out of engagement with the bars 25 and to facilitate handling the ratchet pins to move them out of engagement with the notches in the ratchet bars 25.

In order to obtain the various Gatch raised positions, an upper articulated frame is mounted above the intermediate frame in any suitable or desired manner. The articulated frame may be of any usual construction, such as heretofore used, except that it, instead of being mounted on the main frame, is mounted on the adjustable intermediate frame. The articulated frame also has a spring fabric 40, Fig. 3, of any suitable or desired kind secured at its sides and ends to the parts of the articulated frame. These parts include a movable head portion having side rails 42 and a transverse end bar 43. The articulated frame also includes an intermediate or seat portion formed by relatively short side rails 44. Preferably all of the frame members of the articulated frame are of angle-shaped cross section, and the front ends of the side rails 44 of the seat portion are pivotally connected to the side rails 42 of the head portion, for example, by means of hinges 45. The side rails 44 of the seat portion may be supported on the intermediate frame in any suitable or desired manner, for example, by means of upright plates 41 which as shown are rigidly secured to the side bars I5 of the intermediate frame and to the side rails 44 of the articulated frame. 1

The thigh supporting portion of the articulated frame includes a pair of side rails 48 having their front or head ends pivotally connected, for example, by means of hinges 49 to the side rails 44 of the seat portion. The articulated frame also includes a foot portion having side rails 50 and a transverse end bar or rail 5|. The side rails 50 are pivoted or hinged at 52 to the rear ends of the thigh supporting portion.

The head and thigh portions of the articulated frame may be adjusted about their pivotal connections with the seat portion in any suitable or usual manner, for example, by means of suitable crank operated mechanism mounted on the intermediate frame, The head portion of the articulated frame may be adjusted from the horizontal position shown in Figs, 1 and 4 by means of a crank 55 operating an adjusting screw (not shown) located within a tubular housing 56, the screw serving to move a tube or rod 51 in the general direction of its length. The front end of the tube or rod 51 is pivotally connected to a bracket or extension 58 secured to one of the two side arms 59 of a U-shaped tubular member, The two side arms of the U-shaped member are pivoted at 60 on a pair of supporting plates 6| secured on the intermediate frame and extending downwardly therefrom. It will be noted that by adjusting the rod or pipe 51 in the general direction of its length, the two arms 59 offthe U- shaped tubular member may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, the U-shaped member being sufliciently rigid so that movement transmitted to one arm thereof causes both arms to swing. The upper ends of the arms 59 engage the side members or rails 42 of the head portion of the articulated frame, for example, through the medium of anti-friction rollers 62, so that by moving the arms 59 about their pivots Si! by means of the screw-operated lifting mechanism, the head portion of the articulated frame may be moved into various angular relations to the intermediate frame, regardless of the position of the intermediate frame relatively to the main frame.

The thigh portion of the articulated frame may be adjusted by similar screw actuated mechanism operated by means ofanother crank' 6 5. This mechanism acts upon a side arm 66 of another U- shaped tubular member pivoted at 61, so that these side arms 66 may be swung about their pivots 61 to move the thigh portion from the flat position shown in Fig. 4 to various inclinations, one of which is indicated in Fig. 5.

The foot portion of the articulated frame may be adjusted manually in any suitable or desired manner. For example, a pair of ratchet or notched bars Ill may be mounted in any manner on the side bars of the intermediate frame, and the pawl member is in the form of a U-shaped rod H pivoted to the foot portion at 12 and has a horizontal portion thereof arranged to engage with notches in the rack bars when the foot portion has been raised to the desired extent. The end of the foot portion may have rollers 14 mounted thereon, which may engage and roll on the upper surface of the side frame members 15 of the intermediate frame when the thigh portion of the articulated frame is adjusted. Consequently, when the thigh portion is raised, the foot portion normally assumes inclined positions, one of which is shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, but this foot portion may be swung about its hinge or pivotal connection 52 with the thigh portion, and may then be held in the desired position by means of the pawl member I I, for example, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

Any other means for adjusting the three parts of the articulated frame may be provided, if desired.

Our improved bed construction may be readily adjusted to obtain various positions. If it is desired to support the patient in an inclined position with the head raised, the head end of the intermediate frame is swung upwardly by hand and the pawl member at the head of the bed will then engage any of the notches of the ratchet bars at the head end of the bed, the extreme position of this type being shown in full lines in Fig. 2. If it is desired to support the patient at the opposite inclination with the feet up, then the foot end of the bed is raised until its pawl member engages the desired notch in the ratchet bars 25 at the foot of the bed. The extreme inclined position of this type is shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. In order to facilitate the handling of the intermediate frame in this manner, handles are preferably provided at opposite ends of each of the side frame members l5 of the intermediate frame.

Under certain circumstances, it is desirable to support the patient at an elevated horizontal position, and this can easily be accomplished by raising both ends of the intermediate frame to the desired height. When the intermediate frame is raised to its highest position, the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 4. The broken lines in Fig. 4 show the positions of the parts for supporting the patient in only slightly raised position.

The various Gatch positions may be obtained by means of mechanism actuated-by the cranks 55 and located at the foot end of the bed, and these Gatch positions may be obtained while the intermediate frame is in any of its various positions. The construction described has the further advantage that it involves the minimum of operating mechanism and all of the parts of our im proved construction are mounted as a unit with the main frame acting as a base or supporting member, so that none of the adjusting means are mounted on the bed ends II. Consequently, our improved bed construction may be used in connection with any desired bed ends without requiring any changes therein.

Our bed construction has the further advantage that the opposite sides of the bed are free from any outwardly projecting parts on which attendants or patients might injure themselves. The construction is also very safe in that stops 2!! and 23 limit the downward movement of the intermediate frame and the radius bars guide the intermediate frame so that the correct engagement of the stops with their cooperating parts is ensured.

We claim as our invention:

A bed construction including a main frame having longitudinal side frame members, a rigid intermediate frame mounted on said longitudinal side frame members, and an articulated frame mounted on said intermediate frame and including a plurality of sections, means for adjusting said sections relatively to each other, said longitudinal side frame members having stop brackets secured thereto near one end of the bed and extending into position to engage said intermediate frame to support the corresponding end thereof in its lowest position, said intermediate frame having stop brackets secured thereto near the other end of the bed and extending into position to engage said longitudinal side frame members to support the corresponding end of the intermediate frame in its lowest position, a radius bar at each side of the bed having the ends thereof pivotally connected with a pair of stop brackets near opposite ends of the bed, for guiding said intermediate frame in its movements to maintain said intermediate frame in correct vertical relation to said main frame, and a ratchet mechanism at each end of said bed for releasably supporting each end of said intermediate frame independently of the other end thereof in various vertical relations to said main frame.

JOHN BIGELOW CALDWELL. WALLACE M. MORTON. 

